MHERST, Mass. - University of Massachusetts Director of Athletics John McCutcheon and Head Coach Travis Ford have announced that junior guard Nana Ampim (London, England) and sophomore guard Chris Lowe (Mount Vernon, NY) have been suspended from several team competitions for violations of team rules.

Both Ampim and Lowe will be prohibited from participating on Friday's Midnight Madness event. The players will also be suspended from the team's exhibition game vs. Bridgeport on Nov. 4 and the regular-season opening game vs. Dartmouth on Nov. 11. Ampim and Lowe will both be allowed to particpate in team practices which begin on Friday.

niversity of Massachusetts men's basketball players Chris Lowe and Nana Ampim have been suspended for two games for their roles in a fight early Friday morning in downtown Amherst.

Both players were arraigned on disorderly conduct charges Tuesday in Eastern Hampshire District Court in Hadley and had their cases continued without a finding. If they avoid further trouble until Jan. 9, the legal charges will be dropped.

But Lowe and Ampim were suspended from the Minutemen's exhibition game against Bridgeport Nov. 4 and the season opener at home Nov. 11 against Dartmouth. They also will not participate in Friday's Midnight Madness event, marking the start of full-time practice.

However, Lowe and Ampim will be allowed at subsequent practices and to participate in the team's scrimmage against Albany Oct. 28. That event is closed to the public.

Coach Travis Ford and the two players declined to comment.

Lowe, 19, a sophomore point guard, and junior walk-on Ampim, 20, were arrested early Friday on charges of disorderly conduct following a fight outside bars in downtown Amherst. Police said they broke up a fight among nine people in which one man on the ground was being kicked and punched.

Lowe of Mount Vernon, N.Y., averaged 5.5 points and 4.9 assists in a team-high 31 minutes per game last year as a freshman. Ampim of London, England, has appeared in five games in two seasons.

Lowe's absence against Dartmouth means that highly regarded freshman point guard Tiki Mayben likely will make his debut as a starter.

Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. For more UMass coverage including a frequently updated UMass sports blog, go to www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/umsports.